Pedestal bases



Sept. 20, 1966 R. F. M MAHAN, JR 3,273,842

PEDESTAL BASES Original Filed Aug. 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JIG- 4 ROY E MCMAHANI, JR.

3 BY h; i a

' ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1966 R. F. M MAHAN, JR 3,273,342

PEDESTAL BASES Original Filed Aug. 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROY F MMAHAN,JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,273,842 PEDESTAL BASES Roy F. McMahan, lira, Harrods Creek, Kym, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Continuation of application Ser. No. 424,288, .lan. 8, 1965, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 217,771, Aug. 17, 1962. This application Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 506,438

23 Claims. (Cl. 248-1887) This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 424,288, filed on January 8, 1965, which case was in turn a continuation of my application Serial No. 217,771, filed August 17, 1962. Both Serial No. 424,288 and Serial No. 217,771 are now abandoned.

This invention relates to pedestal bases for desks, benches, chairs, stools, tables, TV stands and like articles of furniture.

The principal object is to provide a pedestal base which is easy to make in various sizes and easy to finish with one or more tfinishes, which can be shipped KD, i.e. knocked down, which is easy to assemble and which, when assembled, provides a sturdy base of simple attractive ap pearance.

A further object is to provide a base which lends itself to variety in furniture design.

My invention is achieved in a three element pedestal base comprising: (1) a pair of horizontally-arranged vertically-spaced top and bottom clamping or compression plates; (2) an upright vertically-separable assembly interposed between the top and bottom clamping or compression plates, this assembly including (a) a verticallyarranged pedestal member, preferably in the form of a pipe having its upper end adjacent (preferably abutting) the underside of the top plate and (b) a transversely-arranged floor-engaging structure, which includes a horizontally-elongated vertically-narrow crossbar having an intermediate portion of its upper side adjacent (preferably engaging) the lower end portion of the pipe and a corresponding portion of its lower side adjacent (preferably abutting) the top side of the bottom clamping or compression plate about the vertical axis of the pipe; and (3) tie rods removably interconnecting the top and bottom clamping or compression plates in a manner urging said plates toward each other so as to clamp the upright assembly between plates.

A pedestal base of this character is highly flexible. It can be readily made in increasing heights simply by cutting the pipe and the tie rods in longer sections. The horizontal span of its floor-engaging structure can be readily increased simply by cutting the crossbar in longer sections. During manufacture, the pipe can be readily finished in clear or colored lacquers, painted, plated with brass or chrome finishes, or covered with wood veneer. The pedestal base has a very important advantage in that it can be shipped Kl) and is quite easy to assemble Furthermore, when assembled, it presents a simple and very attractive appearance.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. 13 relate to a two legged pedestal base made in accordance with my invention, FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively being exploded and assembled views thereof while FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a table equipped with a pair of such two legged pedestal bases;

FIGS. 4-5 relate to a modification wherein a pair of two legged pedestal bases are interconnected, FIG. 4 being an exploded view of one such pedestal base while FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a table equipped with an interconnected pair of such bases;

FIGS. 67 relate to a modification wherein three two legged pedestal bases are interconnected, FIG. 6 being a perspective view of an .L-shaped desk equipped at one end with a FIG. 4 pedestal base of one height, at its opposite end with a similar pedestal base of different height and at its corner with a modified form of interconnected pedestal base of intermediate height, while FIG. 7 is a broken exploded view of the leg arrangement;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a four legged pedestal base made in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a pedestal base of the four legged type shown in FIG. 8 when such type is equipped with a foot ring assembly, FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively being exploded and assembled views thereof.

FIGS. 1-3

The preferred embodiment, of the three element pedestal base illustrated in the drawing, comprises: (1) the vertically-spaced clamping or compression plates; (2) an interposed assembly; and (3) the tie rods.

VerZically-spaced plates The vertically-spaced clamping or compression plates comprise an upper metal plate 5 and a lower metal plate 6. Both are horizontally-arranged stationary plates. Each preferably is composed of metal, fashioned in any suitable shape and supplied as an individually separate or separable part.

The preferred shape of the upper plate 5 normally depends upon the ultimate use of the pedestal base. For example, the pedestal base may be used to support either rotatable or non-rotatable members. If used to support a rotatable member, the top plate 5 may be in the form of the stationary plate of a swivel plate structure, such as is shown in my US. Patent 3,025,116 granted March 13, 1962. As a matter of fact, pedestal bases, made in accordance with the present invention, are presently being used with swivel plates for rotationally supporting counter stool seats, television receivers and other articles. Some articles may be supported for limited angular movement about the vertical axis of the base; others for unlimited rotational movement.

Pedestal bases, made in accordance with the present invention, are also being used to support bench seats and other non-rotatable structures, which, preferably, are mounted directly on the stationary upper plate 5.

The shape of the lower plate 6 does not depend upon the ultimate use of the pedestal base. The lower plate 6 simply functions as a lower clamping or compression member; hence, it may be of any shape suited for the performance of this function.

Interposed KD assembly The upright KD assembly, which is interposed between the upper and lower clamping or compression plates 5 6, is composed of two vertically-separable components comprising: a vertically-arranged pedestal member, preferably in the form of an open-ended metal pipe 9; and a transversely-arranged floor-engaging structure.

The vertically-arranged pipe 9 preferably is straight and cut to a length which varies directly in accordance with the height of the desired pedestal base product. This pipe has its upper end preferably abutting the adjacent underside of the upper plate 5 while its lower end is serrated to provide from two to four transversely-spaced downwardly-open notches '10. The diameter of the up right pipe 9 may vary. Preferably, it. is slightly larger than the lower clamping plate 6.

The transversely-arranged floor-engaging structure has an intermediate portion (preferably the central portion) in upwardly-abutting engagement with the adjacent lower end of the pipe 9 and the opposed intermediate portion of its lower end preferably in downwardly-abutting engagement with the adjacent top side of the lower plate 6. The floor-engaging structure includes at least one cross member 11, having its intermediate (preferably centrallydisposed) portion 12 extending transversely across the lower end of said pipe from one tranversely-spaced notch 10 to another, and a pair of leg portions :13, one for each end of said intermediate portion 12, each leg portion projecting outwardly from the corresponding notch 10. The leg portions preferably extend downwardly to a slight degree to provide feet which engage the floor. However, they may be provided with members 14 forming floor-engaging feet. While each metal cross member 11 may be formed from straight hollow stock, it preferably is cut from straight solid-bar stock of uniform cross section.

On pedestal bases intended for joint use, either with another pedestal base or with some other form of support, only one cross member :11 may be needed. The vertical dimension of its intermediate portion 12 preferably should not be greater and, more preferably, should be slightly smaller than the corresponding dimension of the notch 10 into which it extends. Preferably also each end of the intermediate portion 12 should fit its notch 10 snugly.

Tie rods The tie rods, which rernovably interconnect the top and bottom clamping or compression plates in a manner urging them toward each other so as to clamp the upright assembly tightly therebetween, comprises: a pair of tensioned tie rods 15.

Each tie rod v15 extends vertically from the upper plate 5 to the lower plate 6, preferably within the pipe 9. Its upper end is rigidly but removably secured to the upper plate 5 in any suitable way. As shown, it is threaded into a threaded hole 5a formed in that plate and its threaded connection therewith is tightened by a lock nut 16.

The lower end of the tie rod r15 extends downwardly through a hole 6a formed in the lower plate 6 and projects from the underside thereof. Its projecting end is threaded to receive a clamping nut '17. With this arrangement, it will be appreciated that, as the clamping nut 17 is progressively tightened, the tie rod 15 is correspondingly tensioned and the upright assembly is correspondingly clamped between the upper and the lower plates.

While one to four or more tie rods 15 may be used, the use of two is preferred; hence, shown.

FIG. 3.Furnizfure In FIG. 3 a table 18 is supported by a laterally-spaced pair of two legged pedestal bases constructed in the manner indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 4-5

Modified base of FIG. 4

The modified pedestal base shown in FIG. 4 is the same as the base shown in FIGS. 12 insofar as both include: (1) the vertically spaced plates 5, 6; (2) the interposed assembly of pipe 9a and the two legged floor-engaging structure with one cross member 1d; and (3) a pair of tie rods 15 and clamping nuts 17.

In the modified base of FIG. 4, however, the lower end of pipe 9a is provided with an additional pair of laterallyspaced, preferably diametrically-opposed notches 10 to receive one end of another cross member in the form of a pedestal interconnecting and reinforcing bar 2d. This cross member or bar Zil has an inner portion extending transversely across the lower end portion of said pipe 9a and transversely through said two notches 10 and an outer portion projecting outwardly from one of the notches '10. The inner portion of cross member or bar 20 and the corresponding intermediate portion of cross FIG. 5 .-F urniture In FIG. 5, the table 23 is supported by a laterallyspaced pair of two legged pedestal bases constructed in the cross-reinforced manner indicated in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 67

The L-shaped desk 25 shown in FIG. 6 is supported by three pedestal bases including two end bases and one intermediate or corner base. All of these bases are of different heights. The shortest pedestal base at one end of the desk and the tallest pedestal at the opposite end thereof are structurally identical to the FIG. 4 base and to each other in every detail except that the pipe 9a and the tie rods (not shown) of the taller base are longer than the corresponding parts of the shorter base. Each of these end pedestal bases has in its floor-engaging structure, a cross member '11 provided with a centrally-disposed upwardly-open notch 22 to interfit with a downwardly-open notch 21 in the cross member or reinforcing bar.

The cross-reinforcing bar 20a, which interconnects one pedestal base at one end of the desk 25 with the intermediate pedestal base at the corner of said desk, passes across the lower end of the pipe 9a of the intermediate pedestal base and projects outwardly and downwardly therefrom to provide one leg 13a. The cross member or reinforcing bar 20b, which interconnects the other pedestal base at the other end of the desk 25 with said intermediate pedestal base at the corner thereof, also passes across the lower end of the pipe 9a of the intermediate pedestal base and projects outwardly and downwardly therefrom to provide another leg 13b. At the point within the intermediate pedestal base where the bars 20a and 20b cross each other, they are provided with opposed notches 26 and 27 for interfitting purposes.

FIG. 8

The pedestal base shown in FIG. 8 is intended for individual rather than joint use; hence, its floor-engaging structure is a four legged aifair, which includes two cross members 11 provided with interfitting notches 30 and 31. Otherwise, the four legged pedestal base of FIG. 8 is identical in structure to the two legged pedestal base of FIGS. 45 and 67.

FIGS. 9-10 The four legged pedestal base shown in FIGS. 9l0 is identical to the four legged base shown in FIG. 8 insofar as both include: (1) the vertically-spaced plates 5, 6; 2) the interposed assembly of pipe 9a and a four legged floor-engaging structure composed of two cross members 11; and (3) a pair of tie rods 15 and clamping nuts 17.

Additionally, the FIGS. 9-10 base is provided with a foot-supporting assembly, which comprises; a pair of downwardly bowed cross members 35 and 36 having centrally disposed interfitting notches 3'7 and 38 and outwardly and upwardly projecting leg portions 39 and 40; and a foot-supporting member 41 in the form of a metal ring carried by the upper ends of the legs 39 and 40. Preferably, one bowed cross member 35 of the footsupporting assembly is vertically aligned with one cross member 11 of the floor-engaging structure and arranged to extend through the same notches of pipe 9a. Similarly, the other bowed cross member 36 of the footsupporting assembly is vertically aligned with the other cross member 11 of the fioor-engaging structure and arranged to extend through the same notches of pipe 9a.

Accordingly, each notch in the pipe 9a is vertically dimensioned to accommodate one cross member 11 and one of the cross members 35 and 36.

The flexibility of a pedestal base made in accordance with my invention will be readily appreciated. It can be readily varied in height and in the horizontal span of its legs. When assembled, the pipe 9 or 9a and the legs 13 provide the major portion of its exposed surfaces. These surfaces can be left unfinished, or they may readily be finished with clear or colored lacquer, paint, metal plating or wood veneer. The same is true of the tubes 9 or 9a. Furthermore, the leg finish may be different from the tube finish. As a result, this simple structure, which presents a relatively attractive appearance, lends itself to variety in design which may blend and harmonize with or contrast with the color of the item which is supported by the base whether it be a bench, chair, stool, table, TV stand or something else.

As best seen in FIG. 1, my improved pedestal base assembly comprises three basic components or subcombinations. First, there is a rigid horizontally-elongate vertically-narrow metal crossbar 11 having a short intermediate portion 12 separating leg-forming end portions 13 and, secondly, a pedestal base, preferably in the form of a straight upright hollow open-ended metal pipe 9 removably supported at its lower end upon the top side of said intermediate crossbar portion 12, the lower end of the pipe 9 having two horizontally-separated downwardly-open notches 10 which snugly fit downwardly over the intermediate crossbar portion to support it against horizontal twist relative to the pipe 9.

Thirdly, means are provided for clamping or compressing said upright pipe 9 and crossbar 11 together to form a vertically-separable KD assembly. More specifically, such clamping or compressing means includes four components as follows: (1) an upper individually-separate horizontal metal clamping or compression plate 5 removably supported upon the upper end of pipe 9 in downwardlyabutting engagement therewith, horizontally extending inwardly over the pipe opening and outwardly beyond the vertical sides of said pipe, and provided, over the upper end opening of the pipe, with a spaced pair of holes threaded to receive tie rods; (2) a lower individually-separate horizontal metal clamping or compression plate 6 arranged in vertical alignment with the lower end opening of said pipe 9 and in separately removable upwardly-abutting engagement with the lower side of said intermediate crossbar portion 12, and having a spaced pair of pipe-aligned holes to receive tie rods; (3) a horizontally-spaced pair of individually-separate straight metal tie rods 15 vertically-arranged with their upper ends threaded into said rod-receiving holes in the upper clamping or compression plate 5 to depend therefrom downwardly through the pipe, and with their lower end portions not only disposed in said pipe on opposite sides of said intermediate crossbar portion 12 but also arranged to extend downwardly through said rod-receiving holes in the lower clamping or compression plate 6 and to project downwardly beyond plate 6: and (4) metal clamping nuts 17 threaded to the lower projecting ends of said tie rods 15 and screwed upwardly thereon against the bottom face of said lower clamping or compression plate 6.

My pedestal base has a number of features. First, it is of a simple all metal design which can be readily made in a wide range of heights since a change in height requires only that the pipe 9 or 9a and the tie rods 15 be cut to the changed length desired. Second, it requires little or no change to adapt it for use as a base for a stationary platform on the one hand or for a rotary platform on the other.

Third, as a stationary or rotary platform base, it can be readily shipped KD. For example, as a rotary platform base, it can be shipped KD with a fully assembled flat swivel of the opposed plate type forming one of the RD elements of the base assembly. This is possible because the rods 15 are removably screwed into the lower swivel plate to form an inverted U-bolt. of the KD type. The assembly and disassembly of this inverted U-bolt does not require access to the interior of the swivel. Access to the nuts 17 under the base is sufficient for assembly and disassembly purposes.

Fourth, each base, made in accordance with my invention, may not only be shipped KD with a substantial savings in shipping space and shipping costs but also, when received, can be easily, quickly and inexpensively assembled into a rigid stable structure. Finally, it is highly flexible from a decorating or finish standpoint.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly including a bottom compression plate, a pedestal member supported at its lower end on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods extending between said plates, and means coupling respective ones of said tie rods to said plates to draw them together and compress said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

2. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly including a bottom compression plate, a hollow pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods extending between said plates through said pedestal member, and means coupling respective ones of said tie rods to said plates to draw them together and compress said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

3. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting as sembly including a bottom compression plate, a pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate having a pair of spaced threaded holes therein supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their upper ends, the upper ends of said respective tie rods being threadedly engaged within respective ones of said threaded holes, said tie rods extending between said plates, and means coupling the lower ends of said tie rods to said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

4. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly including a bottom compression plate, a hollow pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate having a pair of spaced threaded holes supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their upper ends, the upper ends of said respective tie rods being threadably engaged within respective ones of said threaded holes, said tie rods extending between said plates through said pedestal member, and means coupling the lower ends of said tie rods to said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

5. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly including a bottom compression plate, a pedestal member supported at its lower end on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate adapted to form the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods extending between said plates, and means coupling respective ones of said tie rods to said plates to draw them together and compress said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

6. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly including a bottom compression plate, a pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate adapted to form the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type having a pair of spaced threaded holes therein supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their upper ends, the upper ends of said respective tie rods being threadably engaged within respective ones of said threaded holes, said tie rods extending between said plates, and means coupling the lower ends of said tie rods to said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

7. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly including a bottom compression plate having a pair of spaced holes therein, a pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate adapted to form the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type, said top compression plate being supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their lower ends, means coupling said tie rods to said top compression plate, said tie rods extending between said plates, and the lower ends of said respective tie rods passing through respective ones of said holes in said bottom compression plate, and means threadably engaging respective ones of said lower ends of said tie rods on the underside of said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

8. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly including a bottom compression plate having a pair of spaced holes therein, a hollow pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding substantially vertically therefrom, a top compression plate adapted to form the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type and having a pair of spaced threaded holes, said top compression plate being supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their upper and lower ends, the upper ends of said respective tie rods being threadably engaged within respective ones of said threaded holes in said top compression plate, said tie rods extending from said upper ends thereof through said pedestal member, the lower ends of said respective tie rods passing through respective ones of said holes in said bottom compression plate, and threaded means threadably engaging respective ones of said lower ends of said tie rods on the underside of said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

9. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly, a bottom compression plate underlying said floorcontacting assembly, a pedestal member supported at its lower end on said floor-contacting assembly on a side thereof opposite said bottom compression plate and upstanding from said floor-contacting assembly, a top compression plate supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods extending between said plates, and means coupling respective ones of said tie rods to said plates to draw them together and compress said fioor-contac-ting assembly and said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

10. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly, a bottom compression plate underlying said floorcontacting assembly, a hollow pedestal member supported at its lower end on said floor-contacting assembly on a side thereof opposite said bottom compression plate and upstanding from said floor-contacting assembly, a top compression plate supported at the upper end of said 8 pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods extending between said plate through said pedestal member and means coupling respective ones of said tie rods to said plates to draw them together and compress said floorcontacting assembly and said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

11. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly, a bottom compression plate underlying said fioorcontacting assembly, a pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate having a pair of spaced threaded holes therein supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their upper ends, the upper ends of said respective tie rods being threadably engaged within respective ones of said threaded holes, said tie rods extending between said plates, and means coupling the lower ends of said tie rods to said bottom compression plate for darwing said plates together and compressing said floor-contacting assembly and said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

12. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly, a bottom compression plate underlying said floorcontacting assembly, a hollow pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate having a pair of spaced threaded holes supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their upper ends, the upper ends of said respective tie rods being threadably engaged within respective ones of said threaded holes, said tie rods extending between said plates through said pedestal member, and means coupling the lower ends of said tie rods to said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together compressing said floor-contacting assembly and said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

13. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly, a bottom compression plate underlying said floorcontacting assembly, a pedestal member supported at its lower end on said floor-contacting assembly on a side thereof opposite said bottom compresion plate and upstanding from said floor-contacting assembly, a top compression plate adapted to form the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods extending between said plates, and means coupling respective ones of said tie rods to said plates to draw them together and compress said floor-contacting assembly and said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

14. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly, a bottom compression plate underlying said floorcontacting assembly, a pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate adapted to form the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type and having a pair of spaced threaded holes supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their upper ends, the upper ends of said respective tie rods being threadably engaged within respective ones of said threaded holes, said tie rods extending between said plates, and means coupling the lower ends of said tie rods to said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said floorcontacting assembly and said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

15. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly, a bottom compression plate underlying said floorcontacting assembly having a pair of spaced holes therein, a pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate adapted to form the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type, said top compression plate being supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their lower ends, means coupling said tie rods to said top compression plate, said tie rods extending between said plates, and the lower ends of said respective tie rods passing through respective ones of said holes in said bottom plate, and means threadably engaging respective ones of said lower ends of said tie rods on the underside of said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said floor-contacting assembly and pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

16. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly including a crossbar, a bottom compression plate beneath said crossbar and having a pair of spaced holes therein, a pedestal member having a diameter greater than the width of said crossbar supported at its lower end on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate adapted to form the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type and having a pair of spaced threaded holes therein, said top compression plate being supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their upper and lower ends, the upper ends of said respective tie rods being threadably engaged within respective ones of said threaded holes in said top compression plate, said tie rods extending between said plates, the lower ends of said respective tie rods passing through respective ones of said holes in said bottom compression plate, and threaded means threadably engaging respective ones of said threaded lower ends of said tie rods on the underside of said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said floor-contacting assembly and pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

17. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting as sembly including a crossbar, a bottom compression plate beneath said crossbar and having a pair of spaced holes therein, a hollow pedestal member 'having a diameter greater than the width of said crossbar, the lower end of said pedestal member having two separated notches fitting over said crossbar to support said pedestal member substantially vertically thereon and to prevent horizontal twist relative thereto, a top compression plate of the type forming the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type and having a pair of spaced threaded holes therein, said top compression plate being supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a pair of separate tie rods respectively threaded at their upper and lower ends, the upper ends of said respective tie rods being threadably engaged within respective ones of said threaded holes in said top compression plate, said tie rods extending from said upper ends thereof through said pedestal member, the lower ends of said respective tie rods passing through respective ones of said holes in said bottom compression plate, and threaded means threadably engaging respective ones of said threaded lower ends of said tie rods on the underside of said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said floor-contacting assembly and pedestal member therebe-tween to form said pedestal base.

18. A pedestal base for desks, benches, chairs, stools, tables, TV stands, etc., comprising: a rigid horizontallyelongate vertically-narrow metal crossbar having a short intermediate portion separating leg-forming end portions; a straight upright hollow open-ended metal pipe remov-ably supported at its lower end upon the top side of said intermediate crossbar portion, the lower end of the pipe having two horizontally-separated downwardlyopen notches which snugly fit downwardly over the intermediate crossbar portion to support it against horizontal twist relative to the pipe; means, separate from pipe and bar, for clamping said upright pipe and crossbar together to form a vertically-separable KD assembly, said clamping means including, an upper individuallyseparate horizontal metal clamping plate, removably supported upon the upper end of said pipe in downwardlyabutting engagement therewith, horizontally extending inwardly over the pipe opening and outwardly beyond the vertical sides of said pipe, and provided, over the upper end opening of the pipe, with a spaced pair of holes threaded to receive tie rods, a lower individually-separate horizontal metal clamping plate, arranged in vertical alignment with the lower end opening of said pipe and in separately removable upwardly-abutting engag ment with the lower side of said intermediate crossbar portion, and having a spaced pair of pipe-aligned holes to receive tie rods, and a horizontally-spaced pair of individually-separate straight metal tie rods verticallyarranged with their upper ends threaded into said rodreceiving holes in the upper clamping plate to depend therefrom downwardly through the pipe, and with their lower end portions disposed in said pipe on opposite sides of said intermediate crossbar portion and arranged to extend downwardly through said rod-receiving holes in the lower clamping plate and to project downwardly beyond said plate, and clamping nuts threaded to the lower projecting ends of said tie rods and screwed upwardly thereon against the bottom face of said lower clamping plate.

19. The pedestal base assembly of claim 18 including: a swivel structure of the opposed plate type wherein the stationary lower swivel plate provides the upper clamping plate.

20. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly including a bottom compression plate, a pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floorcontacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate including a first threaded coupling means, said top compression plate being supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a tie rod having a second threaded coupling means at its upper end threadably engaged with said first threaded coupling means, said tie rod extending between said plates, and means coupling the lower end of said tie rod to said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

21. A pedestal base comprising a fioor-contacting assembly including a bottom compression plate, a pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floorcontacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate including a first threaded coupling means, said top compression plate being of the type forming the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type, said top compression plate being supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a tie rod having a second threaded coupling means at its upper end threadably engaged with said first threaded coupling means, said tie rod extending between said plates, and means coupling the lower end of said tie rod to said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

22. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly, a bottom compression plate underlying said floorcontacting assembly, a pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate including a first threaded coupling means, said top compression plate being supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a tie rod having a second threaded coupling means at its upper end threadably engaged with said first threaded coupling means, said tie rod extending between said plates, and means coupling the lower end of said tie rod to said bottom compression plate for drawing 1 1 said plates together and compressing said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

23. A pedestal base comprising a floor-contacting assembly, a bottom compression plate underlying said floorcontacing assembly, a pedestal member having its lower end supported on said floor-contacting assembly and upstanding therefrom, a top compression plate of the type forming the lower stationary swivel plate of a swivel structure of the opposed plate type, said top compression plate including a first threaded coupling means, said top compression plate being supported at the upper end of said pedestal member, a tie rod having a second threaded coupling means at its upper end threadably engaged with said first threaded coupling means, said tie rod extending between said plates, and means coupling the lower end of said tie rod to said bottom compression plate for drawing said plates together and compressing said pedestal member therebetween to form said pedestal base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Brown 248188.7 Makoski et al. 10 8147 Isakson 248-1887 Matthews 248-349 Abeles et al. 248*349 Johnson et al 248188.7

Summerer 248-349 Gingher et al. 108-30 French 248158 Zimmerman 248-159 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PEDESTAL BASE COMNPRISING A FLOOR-CONTACTING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A BOTTOM COMPRESSION PLATE, A PEDESTAL MEMBER SUPPORTED AT ITS LOWER END ON SAID FLOOR-CONTACTING ASSEMBLY AND UPSTANDING THEREFROM, A TOP COMPRESSION PLATE SUPPORTED AT THE UPPER END OF SAID PEDESTAL MEMBER, A PAIR OF SEPARATE TIE RODS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PLATES, 